Means for keeping switch and signal apparatus free from snow and ice.



- R0. SHAW.

MEANS FOR KEEPING SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FREE FROM SNOW AND ICE. y

APP IOATIOH IIL 1)! 15.1908. I I

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PATENTED 001?. so, 1906. i

"UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

FRAN IS G. sHAw, oF BosToN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To THE INTERNATlONAL SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, or BOSTON,

, AssAcHUsETrs, A (JQRPORATION or MAINE.

MEANS FORKEEPING SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FREE FRO M SNOW AND lCE.

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

To. a whom, it may concern: Be itknown that I, FRANoIs G. SHAW, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetta'have invented an Improvement in Means for Keeping Switch and Signal Apparatus Free from Snow and Ice, of

- which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to switch'and signal I apparatus, and has for its especial object to provide novel means for keeping such apparatus free from snow and ice.

In accordance with my invention I place heating-coils between the ties on which the movable parts of the switch rest or adjacent the movable parts of the signal'apparatus and-then cover said pipes in such a way that the heat radiated from said coils can escape only through openings provided around or adjacent to the movable parts which it is desired to keepfree from snow and ice.

' With this construction there is always a currentof warm air passing up over these movable -parts, thus absolutely preventing their becoming clogged with snow or ice..

I." I- will first describe some embodiments of my invention and then point out the novel features .thereofin the appended claims.

In thedrawings, Figure .1 is a cross-sec tion on substantially the line :1: as, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is. a plan view of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective. detail views showing differentways of inclosing the heating-coils, and Fig. 6 is a section showing a modified arrangement. 1

I have herein illustrated my invention as applied 'for keeping the movable parts of a switch apparatus free from snow or ice; but Ilwish it understood from the outset that 1 with appropriate modifications the invention may be used for keeping the movable parts olia signal apparatus or any other railroad appliancefreefrom snow andice.

InFig. 2 I have only illustrated a sufiicient ortion of a double-slip switch to illustrate ow 'my invention may be applied thereto, andin said figure, 3, 4, 5, and 6 represent fixed non-movable rails, while 7, 8, 9-, and 2 representgmovable point-rails, which are capable of. being moved.toWardfliid from the other rails to connect the different tracks, all as usual. 10 designates the ties on which the switch-rails are mounted. These parts may be of any suitable or usual construction and form no part of my present invention. In applying my invention to this form of switch I arrange between. the adjacent ties 10,'or wherever the movable parts of the switch are to be kept warm, heating-coils 11, and I have found from practice that two lengths of pipe between each two adjacent ties is sufficient for my purpose. It will be understood, however, that any amount of heating-surface necessary to effect the object may be employed without departing from the invention. As herein shown, the two lengths of pipe are designated by 11, and they are connected in series, and the twolengths between any two adjacent ties will. be connected by pipe lengths 12 with the coil arranged between the next two adjacent ties.

In the switch herein shown the points wherein it is desirable to deliver the heat for keeping the switch clear are between the rails 3 and 7, between the rails 4 and 5,.and between the rails 2 and 6, and in order to concentrate the heat radiated from the coils 1-1 at these points Icover the coils between the rails 7 and 4, also between the rails 5 and 2, and also outside of each of the rails 3 and 6. The means for covering the coils is so constructed that a separate chamber is formed between each two adjacent ties, each chamber containing one or more. coils in the pipe 11. For covering the coils outside of each of the rails 3 and 6 I have provided heads or casing-sections, which form the ends of the chambers between the ties, These casing-sections are designated by 13 and are herein shown as having the top portion 13 and the vertical end portion 15. The end portion 15 fits between the two adjacent ties 10, as shown in Fig. 4, and the .top portion 14 preferably rests on and overlaps the ties, as at 16, (see Fig. 4,) and also fits tightly over and overlaps the base of the rail 3. The ver-' tical portions 15 of these casing-sectio'ns-exties.

by means of the angle-pieces or other holding devices 21, secured to the ties and said sec= ftions may be made in any suitable way,

, tend clear to the earth or ballast between the Said casing-sections may be held in .place in any suitable way-as, for instance,

either by casting or stamping them from sheet metal.

The top of the chamber between each two adjacent ties may be partially formed by lengths of sheet metal 20 where there is a considerable space between adjacent rails. These plates or sections of sheet metal are preferably curved transversely and are sprung between the ties and are of a shape to fit tightly at their edges against the ties.

For covering the space between theplates 20 and the fixed rails 4 and 5 I employ casing-sections 23, which are constructed with the top portion 24. and the vertical side portion 25, the latter extending down to meet and fit tightlythe plate 20. The casing-sections 23 may be made in any suitable way, either from a single piece or from several pieces secured together. The spaces between the movable rails 7 and 2 and the top pieces 20 are closed by other casing-sections 26, which are secured to the rails and move therewith. Said casing-sections each have the vertical portion 27 received between the ties 10 and resting on and making a tight joint with the plates 20, and they also each have the top portion 28, which extends up to and fits the movable portion of the rail.

It will thus be seen that between each two adjacent ties a chamber is formed within which the coil is received and that said chamber is closed except at the outlet-openings adjacent the movable rails. In the present form of the invention there is one outletopening between the rails 3 and 7, another between the rails 4 and 5, and still another between the rails 2 and 6. When the rails 2 and 7 are operated, the casing-sections 26 slide over the fixed top portions 20, as will be obvious; but a tight joint is always formed between these parts.

A casing-section similar to 28 may also be provided between the movable rails 8 and 9 where they are sufficiently separated for this purpose.

The plates 20 may either have a concave top, as shown in Fig. 5, or a convex upper surface, as shown in Fig. 6. In either event they are merely sprung in between the ties and held there by means of nails 61 or in any suitable way. These plates 20 are located, preferably, near the coils 13, as shown in Fig. 1, and below and out of the Way of the connections 38 between the movable rails. These connections will pass through apertures made in the casing-sections 13, 23, and 28; but said casing-sections are of such a shape that they will not interfere in any way with the operation of the switch. The casing-sections and also the plates 20 will be kept sufficiently warm by the heat radiated from the coils 11, so that it will be impossible for any snow to gather at the vulnerable points of the switch.

It will be observed that by placing the plates 28 below the connections 38 any adjustment in the connections may be made without removing any part of the casing.

It will be seen that the chambers for receiving the heating-coils may be made very inexpensively by simply stamping the various sections into shape from sheet metal, and it will be also observed that this arrangement may be applied to any switch without in any way disarranging the parts of the switch. I regard this latter feature as very important, because switches in the yard of any terminal station may be equipped with my invention without taking the switches up or disturbing their operation in any way.

It will be obvious that my invention may be readily applied to any switch of whatever type by simply making the casing-sections of the appropriate shape to fit between the various ties of the switch and to fit the various fixed and movable rail-sections.

The essential feature of my invention is so constructing the casing and inclosing the heating-coils that the outlet-openings therein are formed adjacent the movable rails which it is desired to keep free from snow and ice, and while I prefer to make the chamber from the casing-sections, as herein shown, yet this is not essential to my invention.

It will also be obvious that the invention may be applied to signal apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a switch and signal apparatus containing movable parts, heating-coils arranged adjacent to said parts, and means to cover said coils except at those points adjacent the movable parts.

2. In a device of the class-described containing movable parts, heating-coils adjacent said movable parts, and means to cover said heating-coils except at points between the parts which are movable relative to each other.

3. In a switch apparatus, a fixed rail and a movable rail, heating-coils beneath said rails, and means to cover said coils except at points between said rails, whereby the heat generated by the coils will escape around the movable rail.

4. In a switch, a fixed rail, a movable rail, heating-coils beneath said rails located between the ties, and means to cover said coils except at a point directly beneath the movable rail.

5. In a switch, a fixed rail, a movable rail, heating-coils beneath said rails between the ties, a fixed casing-section secured to the fixed rail, and a movable casing-section secured to and carried by the movable rail.

6. In a switch, a fixed rail, a movable rail, heating-coils beneath said rails between the ties, and means to cover said heating-coils, said means comprising a fixed casing-section secured outside of the fixed rail, a fixed cover for the portion of the coils located between the rails of the track, and a movable casingsection secured to the movable rail.

7. In a switch, fixed rails, movable switchrails, heating-coils located between the ties on which said rails rest, and a separate cover for the coils between each pair of ties.

8. In a switch, fixed rails, movable rails, heating-coils extending beneath the rails between the ties, and means forming with each pair of adjacent ties a chamber to receive said heating-coils, each chamber having an outlet adj acentthe movable rails.

, 9. In a switch, fixed rails, movable switchrails, heating-coils situated between the ties on which said rails rest, separate means to cover the coils between each two' adjacent ties, said means comprising a fixed casingsection fitting between the ties outside of the fixed rail, a fixed plate covering a portion of the coils between the rails of the track, and a movable casing-section secured to and movable with the movable rails.

10. In a switch contaim'ng fixed and movable rails, means forming with each pair of adjacent ties a separate chamber beneath the rails which has outlet-openings adjacent the movable rails, and heating means located within said chamber.

11. In a switch, a movable rail, ties on which said rail rests, heating means located between the ties, and a chamber to inclose said heating means and provided with an outlet-opening adjacent the movable rail, whereby the current of hot air delivered from the chamber keeps the movable rail warm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS G. SHAW.

Witnesses:

LoUIs 0. SMITH, FRANK L. YOUNG. 

